EFCC says the acquittal of Goodluck Jonathan's cousin Robert Azibaola who was charged for $40 million fraud is 'unfortunate'

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, describes as unfortunate the acquittal of Robert Azibaola, a cousin to former president, Goodluck Jonathan, who was charged for $40 million fraud before Justice Nnamdi Dimg alt='EFCC says the acquittal of Goodluck Jonathan's cousin Robert Azibaola who was charged for $40 million fraud is 'unfortunate'' class='img-responsive text-center' style='margin: auto;'ba.



The EFCC expresses concern that despite the weight of evidence brought before the Court and witnesses presented, Justice Dimg alt='EFCC says the acquittal of Goodluck Jonathan's cousin Robert Azibaola who was charged for $40 million fraud is 'unfortunate'' class='img-responsive text-center' style='margin: auto;'ba held that, "the prosecution must show directly how the defendant took possession of funds and knew that it forms part of proceeds of corruption."



Invariably, the Commission's legal team will be studying the judgement thoroughly and will be taking necessary actions to appeal it as we hope that the appellate court shall view the merit of the prosecution and do justice to the case.

How we moved N1.2billion for Fayose’s aide - Witness tells court

A former Head of Treasury at the Diamond Bank Plc., Lagos, Olaitan Fajuyitan, on Monday, May 27, 2019, told the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, presided over by Justice Nnamdi Dimg alt='How we moved N1.2billion for Fayose?s aide -?Witness tells court' class='img-responsive text-center' style='margin: auto;'ba, how his team internally processed the sum of N1.2bn (One Billion, Two Hundred Million Naira), acting on the transfer instruction given to them by Abiodun Agbele, who is a signatory to the Sylver McNamara Limited’s account. Agbele is an aide of the former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose.



Recall that Agbele is standing trial before Justice Dimg alt='How we moved N1.2billion for Fayose?s aide -?Witness tells court' class='img-responsive text-center' style='margin: auto;'ba, on alleged money laundering preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to the tune of N1.2bn (One Billion, Two Hundred Million Naira). The money is allegedly from the office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), under Sambo Dasuki.



At the last hearing on the March 29, 2019, while being led in evidence by Prosecution counsel, Wahab Shittu, the witness, PW4, told the court that he received an instruction to process “a high valued transaction”, which could only be made at the Head Office of the bank through the department he was heading.



However, at the resumed hearing today, Shittu prayed the court to admit in exhibit, a certified true copy of Payment Instruction, dated June 16, 2014 and the evidence was thereafter admitted as Exhibit AA13, which was the written instruction, stating that the first defendant, Abiodun Agbele, sent to the bank on behalf of his company, Sylver McNamara Limited.



The witness, under cross-examination by the counsel to the 3rd Defendant, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, told the court that he never met Agbele during and after the processing of the transfer. When asked if he was aware whether the bank complied fully with the instructions that the first Defendant gave in the letter earlier admitted in Exhibit AA13, he declined to the question.


“Cash in Transit, CIT, only processes internal transactions and it’s the only transacting department in the head office. I am not aware if the bank fully complied with the instructions in the letter as it was not for my team to know that. I only work for the bank, I am not the bank”, he stated.

When asked by the Counsel to Agbele, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, who was represented by Ikem Okoro, if Diamond Bank deals with illicit funds, he said: “I do not know if the bank deals with illicit funds, but I am sure the bank deals with funds and are legally bound to carry out lawful instructions of a customer in respect to his account.”



Agbele said he was not aware if the funds were transferred to the beneficiaries on the withdrawal instruction earlier admitted as exhibit, because he is not the account officer to Sylver McNamara Limited adding that he and his team legitimately performed their duties as there was no query issued to them by their superior officers in respect of the same transaction.



The defense counsels said they have no objection to the request to allow the prosecution witness to step down from the witness box as he has concluded his testimony. Justice Dimg alt='How we moved N1.2billion for Fayose?s aide -?Witness tells court' class='img-responsive text-center' style='margin: auto;'ba then adjourned the case to June 24 and 25, 2019, for further hearing, as Wahab Shittu, informed the court that Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, a former Minister of State for Defence will be available in court to give his testimony as a prosecution witness.

N2bn Money Laundering: Court orders police commissioner to arrest ex-governor Babangida Aliyu

Justice Aminu Aliyu of the Federal High Court, Minna, on Monday, May 27, 2019, ordered the Commissioner of Police, Niger State Command, to arrest former Niger State Governor Muazu Babagida Aliyu and compel his appearance in court on June 13, 2019.



The Judge also directed the CP to arrest former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Niger State, Umar Nasko. The development was sequel to the non-appearance of the duo in court for the second time.



The EFCC is prosecuting Aliyu and Nasko over their alleged involvement in about N2billion money laundering. The judge, who was visibly angry over lack of respect for his court, gave three orders to the Commissioner of Police for failure to carry out his order.



First, he ordered Commissioner of police to appear before the court for failure to execute his order. Secondly, he directed the Commissioner of Police to execute the Bench warrant earlier issued against the duo. The Judge further directed the CP to personally arrest Aliyu and Nasko and personally bring them to court on the next adjourned date- June 13, 2019.



Incidentally, no reason was canvassed for their absence in court. Lawyer to Babangida Aliyu, Akinjide Ayodele (SAN), who was present in court, however, claimed that he was unable to get in touch with his client on Sunday. But the judge replied that Babangida Aliyu was not in court according to his court records.



Nasko’s lawyer, Mamman Ousman (SAN), was also absent in court with his client. Lead lawyer to the prosecuting EFCC, Mr Muyiwa Akinboro (SAN), Hadiza Afegbua and Bilyaman Lawal appeared for the Commission.

I rate Saraki, Dogara low on patriotism for delaying the budget – President Buhari

President Buhari has rated Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, low on patrotism for the delay in passing the 2019 budget. The President presented the budget to a join session of the National Assembly in December 2018 and the Lawmakers passed the budget into law in April, five months after.



Apparently displeased by the delay in passing the Budget every year, President Buhari in a
taped interview broadcast on Nigerian Television Authority on Monday night, said he expresed his displeasure to Saraki and Dogara while assenting the budget on Monday May 27th.


“I think a culture was developed in the National Assembly that they should dictate the terms, which was wrong. It is the executive that dictates the terms and takes it before the legislature. It (the legislature) will examine it and agree or disagree with it.

But when they go around posing that they are the government and not the executive, then that’s the problem. I felt it and I spoke personally to the Senate President, Saraki, and the leader of the House, Dogara. They could not deny it.

I asked them how they felt to hold the country at ransom for seven months without passing a budget. Unfortunately, they were not hurting me; they were hurting the country. So, really, in terms of patriotism, I think I rated them very low indeed.

But to hold a budget for seven months cannot be justified if you really bother about the country,” he said

Those calling me ‘Baba Go Slow’ will be shocked in my second term - President Buhari

President Buhari has said that the people who have referred to him as Baba Go Slow during his first term in office, will be shocked at the pace he will work in his second term which commences tomorrow Wednesday, May 29th.



The President made this known during a special interview session with the Nigerian Television Authority NTA which aired last night. According to President Buhari, he will be more ruthless and he will ensure the judiciary and police work effectively.



When asked if he will be more ruthless in his second term, he said “Those who call me ‘baba go slow’ will see whether I am slow or fast.”



Expantiating, President Buhari said


“It means I will persuade the police and the judiciary to be hard and where I uncover that they are not hard, I will find out who is responsible for the slowness in terms of command from the DPO upwards. The IG cannot do it alone; he needs to depend on commissioners who in turn depend on DPOs.”

Captain Tunde Demuren shares photo from wedding day as he celebrates third wedding anniversary with Toolz

OAP Tolu "Toolz" Oniru-Demuren and Captain Tunde Demuren are celebrating their third wedding anniversary today.



The couple, whose union is blessed with a son, got married in Dubai in 2016.



Celebrating their third anniversary, Tunde shared a photo from their wedding day and wrote: "Three (3) Years ago today, my Princess became my Queen. I thank God for the blessings, the lessons and everything In between. You have made me better and I hope I have done something similar in your life. Looking forward to plenty blissful and beautiful years with my Queen. #weddinganniversary #3Years#Forever"

Police arrest Almajiri teacher over alleged sexual abuse of his pupils (photo)

The Sokoto state Police Command has arrested Malam Murtala Mode (pictured above), a teacher of Almajiri School in Arkillan Magaji area of the state, for allegedly having unlawful and forceful sexual intercourse with six of his pupils.



The state Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Kaoje, who paraded the suspect before newsmen, said the suspect in his confessional statement said it was “destiny“, adding that he did it for money. The suspect was reported to the state police command by one Barrister Hamza Liman of the National Human Right Commission.



When interviewed by newsmen, the pupils (names withheld) who were mostly from the neighbouring Zamfara states, said the suspect had turned them into sex machines before the human rights intervention.



The Police commissioner however said the pupils would be reunited with their parents after the completion of their investigation. He urged parents to desist from taking their wards to Almajiri schools outside their areas.